Be My Baby

1

In the year 2007, a worldwide epidemic struck the female population. With a 98% infection rate, the disease was unavoidable. However, if aged between 11-13, the chances of contracting the virus became slimmer. It didn't take long for the governments of the world to release a cure that successfully irradicated all traces of the virus however, what the world leaders didn't know was that the 'cure' simultaneously destroyed the female reproductive organs in the body - leaving over 6 and a half billion women barren around the world. The remaining 500 million - children. Every infertile woman on the planet was gunned down - unless you were rich of course, no woman was allowed to hold property or money and all of those things were transferred to their husbands or next of kin. My name is Annabelle. I'd been in training for five years, today was my 16th birthday but it was hardly special. I currently sat in the back of a Mercedes Limo with blacked out windows. The driver hadn't seen my face - he wasn't allowed - The mistress of the house was to be the first to see my face - to decide if I was attracted enough to bare her grandchildren. The driver was a handsome young man (around 21 years old) he had medium length dark brown hair, a five o'clock shadow and a mysterious glint in the corner of his dark blue eyes. He drove me in silence. I was dressed head to toe in a black gown as to remain completely modest and a large black hat hid my face from prying eyes. Once we pulled up to a large, old house, the driver got out and opened my door, offering me his hand to help me out. I looked up slightly, still keeping my head low, to get a good look at the house. Honestly, I was frightened. I had no idea who these people were or how nice they were going to be to me. When I walked in through the door, a thin woman with her blonde hair pulled into a tight bun and a red dress with matching heels walked down the stairs with pride and a snooty expression. The woman walked over to me and removed my hat. The driver stood at the door and diverted his gaze silently. Everyone knew the rules. The woman looked me up and down, circling me and examining every part of my body. She returned to my front and placed her hand beside her back causing me to look up at her. "Thank you, Jack. She'll do just fine," I saw the driver nod and turn to exit the house. "My name is Camilla Rookewood but you will address me as Ma'am in the future, is that clear?" I tried my best not to slur my words from nerves.

"Yes, Ma'am," I answered quietly. The woman took my shoulder and lead me into a large room to her right where two boys were milling around. The older one of them (perhaps around 24) was looking out the window with a half drunk glass of gin in hand whereas the younger one was seated on a comfy chair before the fireplace. For a split second, our eyes met but they snapped away instantly. I wasn't to be his. My heart began to race as I recognized his face as soon as I saw him. He was so much more defined and manly than when I knew him. His name was Arthur. He was a boy in my class when I was taken from the school. His face filled with hurt knowing that someone he knew quite well honestly, was set to the fate of a Vessel. Some girls would rather die - some did. She walked over to the couch and sat with her legs crossed, looking up at me.

"These are my sons, Elliot and Arthur. Have you been educated on the ways of your duties?" I told her quietly once again that I had. "Excellent. You will have the day to settle in and the act will be carried out at the nationally stated time which I presume you know," I nodded. I felt the boys eyes on me. Elliot was studying me and judging me in the process whereas Arthur was aching to talk to me. To run over and hug me after all these years. If I was honest, I would be lying if I said that I didn't want to do the same. The woman snootily took a silver bell from the table and rang it to summon their cook. The woman then took me by the arm and lead me up a flight of stairs in silence. I felt the boys watching me as I left the room. The house as a whole was quite grand but the room that I was placed it was down a long, thin hallway - out of the way of course. Seen and not heard - that's a Vessel's job. The woman opened the door to a small and disgusting room and lead me in.

"How old are you?" She asked me. I told her. the woman sat down next to me on the single bed, rubbing my back. "I know it's hard, but Elliot is nice - It's his mother you need to be wary of," The woman smiled and stood before smiling down at me - "Let God be with you," I smiled back before she walked out, closing the door. If I painted the walls black from white the room wouldn't be any darker. The once frilly net curtains at the window are thick with over a decade of grime. The light that struggles through fails to reflect from the once shined wooden floor that is more like the floor of a horror cabin in the woods both colour and texture. The walls could be white, I can't tell. There is no chance at all I'm staying on that bed without checking it for bugs; one tick bites me and that's it - I'm not fit for my duties. I decided to remove my hat and take a trip down to the kitchen for a bite. To my surprise, the cook wasn't there but it was Jack filling a glass of water with his back to me. His arms were tanned and toned and his hair was well-kept and glossy as it rested on his neck. He was honestly very attractive.

"Hello," I greeted nervously. The man turned off the tap and faced me without emotion. I had my hands behind my back and it was only then that I realized that this was the first view of my face that he'd had. He turned and sipped his drink saying that he wasn't supposed to talk to me. "I only wanted to know if I could eat something," He laughed a little to himself, still looking away asking if they didn't feed me at the institution or something. I shook my head and took a seat. "They don't feed us on our birthdays. Makes us seem thinner and more attractive so the mistresses don't send us back," He shook his head and cleaned out his now empty glass.

"That's shit," I nodded and agreed with him with a huff as I leaned down on my elbows. "Hey," He chirped up after a second which caused us to meet each other's gaze for the first time. "Fresh from the garden," he told me as he threw a fresh green apple in my direction. He didn't smile or show any kind of emotion what so ever, he just turned to walk out the door.

"Thank you!" I shouted after him which caused him to stop with his hand on the doorframe but he only lingered for a second before he walked outside without a word.